Folding tray.



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J. C. TOYNBEB.

FOLDING TRAY. APPLICATION FILED JULY'IG. 1910.

977,239. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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UNITE STATE AE FFTQ. V

JOSEPH C. IOYNBEE, OF GLEN OSBORNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TRAY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPr-r C. TOYNBEE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Glen Osborne, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding Trays, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to folding trays, and the primary object of theinvention is to provide positive and reliable means for stretching apiece of fabric and retaining the same in a stretched position, wherebyit can be used as a tray or lap-board for various purposes, forinstance, playing cards, particularly when traveling, picnics, parlorgames and as a temporary lap-board.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding or collapsibleframe that can be folded into a comparatively small parcel that can becarried in the pocket or in a valise, the frame being constructedwhereby in a set up position it will present a rigid structure capableof supporting a piece of fabric in a stretched condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovetype that is simple, durable, inexpensive to manufacture and highlyeiiicient for the purposes for for which it is intended.

lVith these and such other objects in view as may hereinafter appear,the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and thenclaimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a bottomplan of a tray in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional View of the tray, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of thetray, Fig. 4 is a plan of one of the frames in a folded position, Fig. 5is a similar view of another frame in a folded position, and Fig. 6 is alongitudinal sectional view of a modified form of fastener forming partof the tray.

A tray in accordance with my invention comprises two substantiallyY-shaped collapsible frames, consisting of bars 1 and 2 and arms 3 and4. The arms 3 have the inner ends thereof pivotally mounted by pins 5between plates 6, secured, as at 7 to the end of the bar 2, the plates 6being arranged in parallelism and extending beyond the sides of the bar2, whereby the arms 3 can Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 16, 1916.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Serial No. 572,335.

be folded rearwardly into parallelism with the bar.

The arms l have the inner ends thereof pivotally mounted by pins 8between plates 9, similar to the plates 6, the plates 9 being connectedto the end of the bar 1, as at 10. Pivotally mounted upon the end of thebar 1 is a fastening device, comprising a hinged member 11 supporting arectangular link 12, said link having the inner lower edge thereoftoothed or serrated, as at 13. This link is adapted to receive the bar 2and frictionally engage the same, said bar being held in parallelismwith the bar 1 by a rectangular keeper 1 1 loosely and slidably mountedupon the bars 1 and 2.

The outer ends of the arms 3 and 4c are cut off at an angle, as at 15 tosquarely engage in pockets 16 formed in the hems 17 of a piece of fabric18, said fabric having the longitudinal edges thereof hemmed, as at 19.It is preferable to use canvas or other light and durable material thatcan be drawn taut by stretching the frames of the tray.

After the ends of the arms 3 and a have been placed in the hem 17, theend of the bar 1 is used as a fulcrum for the bar 2, after the bar hasbeen inserted in the link 12, and by pressing the free end of the bar 2toward the bar 1, the link 12 will frictionally grip the bar 2 and holdthe same, while the free end of the bar 2 can be locked in engagementwith the bar 1 by the loose keeper let.

In lieu of using the hinged member 11, the sides of the link 12 can beflanged, as at 12 and the rear ends of the flanges pivotally connectedto the sides of the bar 1 by a transverse pin 12. The bars 1 and 2 andthe arms 3 and 4 are preferably made of light and durable wood, and theremainder of the frames of metal.

WVhile in the drawing there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that the structural elements thereofare susceptible to such changes as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is In a folding tray, a tray top formed of flexiblematerial and provided at the ends with pockets on the under side of thetray top, in combination with means for stretching said tray top andsecuring same in stretched position, comprising two pairs of arms havingthe outer ends removably seated in said pockets, plates to which theinner and acting to hold the bars closed one 10 ends of said arms arepivoted, a pair of against the other.

stretcher bars pivoted one at one end to the I In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature plates of one pair of arms and the other at in thepresence of two witnesses.

the opposite end to the plates of the other pair of arms, a hinged hnkcarried by the free end of one of said stretcher bars and receiving theother stretcher bar therethrough, and a keeper slidabl-e on the barsJOSEPH O. TOYNBEE.

Witnesses:

KARL H. BUTLER, EVA A. MILNE.

